Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2007-08: Entering his first year in the OHL, Jesse Blacker only appeared in 17 games this season, registering four assists.

2008-09: Blacker saw a lot more ice time this season, and the defenseman in turn saw his totals boost. In 67 games with Windsor (OHL), he netted four goals and 17 assists for a total of 21 points. Added another four assists in 20 playoff games, a post-season that saw Blacker and his Spitfires teammates win the Memorial Cup.

2009-10: Jesse started off the year playing a limited role on a stacked Windsor team. After nine games a three assists, Jesse privately requested a trade to further his development when he was sent to Owen Sound to play a significant role on their backend. In 48 games with the OHL Club, Jesse would tally six goals and 24 assists, and be named to the OHL All Star Game. He would briefly spend some time with the Marlies as well, adding an assist in 6 games with Toronto.

2010-11: Blacker was the leading scorer among defensemen for OHL champion Owen Sound and competed in the Memorial Cup for the second time in three years. He scored 10 goals with 44 assists and was +17 with 83 PMs in 62 regular season games and was named to the OHL’s Third All-Star team. Blacker was +9 in 22 playoff games and scored 5 goals with 11 assists for the Attack. Blacker, who won a Memorial Cup championship with Windsor in 2009, had 1 assist with an even plus/minus in four 2011 Memorial Cup games with Owen Sound (1-3).

2011-12: Blacker showed promise as a physical defender capable of providing some offensive support playing for Toronto’s AHL affiliate Marlies in his first pro season. While neck and “upper body” injuries forced him to miss 18 regular season games, and he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the Marlies’ second round playoff series, Blacker proved capable of competing at the pro level. He scored 1 goal and was second amongst Marlies defensemen with 15 assists in 58 games. He was third on the Marlies with 73 penalty minutes and was plus-eight. In six playoff games he had 1 assist and was minus-one with 4 penalty minutes.

2012-13: Blacker had an up-and-down season seeing full-time action with the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, in his second pro season. In 61 games he scored 4 goals with 7 assists and was -4 with 33 penalty minutes. Toronto finished first in the North Division and reached the second round in the AHL playoffs. Blacker played in four of nine playoff games. He had 1 assist and was +2 in the playoffs. Blacker spent time with the Maple Leafs but did not appear in any NHL games.

2013-14: Blacker spent his third pro season in the AHL — beginning the season with the Toronto Marlies before being acquired by the Ducks as part of a multi-player trade in November 2013 — skating for Anaheim affiliate Norfolk. In 55 regular season games between the two teams he scored 6 goals with 19 assists and was -15 with 23 penalty minutes. Norfolk finished third in the East Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Blacker scored 1 goal and was -2 with 10 penalty minutes in 10 playoff games. He was tendered a qualifying offer by the Ducks and signed a one-year contract as a restricted free agent in July 2014.

2014-15: Blacker began the season in the Anaheim organization, making his NHL debut in a November 28th game against Chicago after being recalled from AHL affiliate Norfolk. In December 2014 he was acquired by Florida in exchange for Colby Robak. He skated for Panthers’ AHL affiliate San Antonio, providing a boost to the Rampage attack and finishing the year in the AHL.

Talent Analysis

Blacker was a highly-touted prospect coming out of junior hockey but has yet to develop into the consistent two-way defender his skill set suggests he can be. He is a top end skater which allows him to cover his mistakes or jump into the rush. His offensive ability hasn’t translated much into the pros, but he does show flashes on occasion. Defensively, he’s made progress and has been used in penalty killing situations at the AHL level. The key issues for Blacker have been an inability to play at a high level consistently and a tendency for mental lapses such as missed plays or costly penalties.

Future

Blacker was invited to Dallas' 2015 training camp before being released and signing an AHL contract with Stars' affiliate Texas. His skill set suggests he can be a decent injury call-up option and provide some value on the power play. Achieving any more than that is uncertain at this point.

Photo: Defenseman Alex Petrovic is playing in his third full season of professional hockey. Petrovic was a second round pick from the 2010 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Florida Panthers minor league system is teeming with NHL-prospects who are waiting for opportunities on the Florida roster. Florida General Manager Dale Tallon hinted in the past few weeks that he may be looking to trade some of the more veteran forwards on the squad in order to facilitate some of that upward movement. Until then, the AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage are reaping the rewards of having top-notch talent playing throughout their lineup.

Photo: Rickard Rakell’s two-way game has earned him a job with the Anaheim Ducks in 2014-15 (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Despite the amount of success the Anaheim Ducks have had in recent years, they have still put together a deep pool of talent with a great deal of variety. Their mid-round drafting has been superb and they have rarely failed with high round picks, such as Nick Ritchie. The team is currently seeing an influx of role players and depth players to help support the already high-end talent the NHL team has. It is this sort of cohesiveness to the pipeline that puts the Ducks near the top of the league in overall prospect talent.

Photo: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Josh Archibald begins his pro career after a breakout season offensively with the University of Nebraska-Omaha (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Before the St. John’s IceCaps knocked off the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in last year’s AHL Eastern Conference Final, the conference’s champion and representative in the Calder Cup Finals had come out of the East Division the last ten years. Read more»

Photo: Goaltender John Gibson, who has found success as a rookie pro this season for Norfolk in the AHL, takes over the top spot in the Ducks Top 20 update (courtesy of Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)

Photo: Defenseman Morgan Rielly has experienced a lot of ups and downs in his first NHL season. Rielly has recorded two goals and 18 assists through 54 games with the Maple Leafs. (courtesy of Abelimages/Getty Images)

Outside of Nazem Kadri and the soon-to-graduate Morgan Rielly, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been void of big-name prospects for a few years. Moreover, they have lacked the prospect depth of most other NHL teams, either as a result of trading picks or players not yet meeting their potential.